Artistry Closes Six Shrimp Basket Locations
Artistry Restaurants is closing six Shrimp Basket restaurants, including the Tuscaloosa location, to focus on beach and coastal sites.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Dining Out
Live Poll
Do you think local dining options in your area have gotten better or worse lately?
Artistry Restaurants closed six Shrimp Basket locations effective Sunday, November 1, 2026, including the McFarland Boulevard restaurant in Tuscaloosa. The company announced the closures Monday, saying it will concentrate resources on its 12 remaining beach and coastal restaurants.
Why it matters
The closures end Shrimp Basket's presence at several inland Alabama locations, leaving Tuscaloosa diners without the chain's nearest restaurant. The company said it is returning to its coastal seafood roots and working with affected workers to find transfers.
Six Shrimp Basket locations closed, five of them inland in Alabama, leaving 12 beach and coastal restaurants open. The number of affected employees and transfer outcomes have not been disclosed.
The players
Artistry Restaurants
Artistry Restaurants is the Winter Park, Florida-based parent company that acquired Shrimp Basket in May 2020 and operates its coastal seafood restaurants.
The details
Artistry Restaurants, headquartered in Winter Park, Florida, closed the Shrimp Basket restaurants in Tuscaloosa, Bay Minette, Cullman, Gardendale and Auburn, Alabama, plus the Warrington location in Pensacola, Florida. The company said clustering of its restaurants around Pensacola factored into which locations closed.
Timeline
May 2020: Artistry Restaurants acquired Shrimp Basket.
Sunday, November 1, 2026: Six locations closed, including the Tuscaloosa restaurant on McFarland Boulevard.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Artistry announced the closures in a statement to the Tuscaloosa Thread.
Market Landscape
Artistry's decision follows its 2020 acquisition of Shrimp Basket, which came with a Gulf to Guest program, a family meals menu, the Big Catch Award employee recognition program and expanded marketing. The company now concentrates the chain on coastal markets where its seafood positioning originated.
Tuscaloosa diners lose the McFarland Boulevard Shrimp Basket, and nearby Alabama residents must travel farther to reach remaining locations. Former employees may find transfers to other Artistry restaurants, though terms are not yet public.
The takeaway
Diners who rely on a specific Shrimp Basket should confirm the location is still open before visiting, since closures took effect November 1. Coastal Shrimp Basket locations remain the chain's core focus going forward.
Further reading
Explore more Dining Out coverage from across the region.
Live Poll
Do you think local dining options in your area have gotten better or worse lately?
